Nathan Cleverly has hit back at critics who have suggested that the Welshman should be fighting higher-class opposition than his next opponent Tommy Karpency.
The 24-year-old will defend his WBO light-heavyweight crown for the second time against the American at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on February 25.
"I don't care that some boxing writers and boxing enthusiasts have written my opponent off," said the unbeaten Cleverly.
"It would be stupid of me to underestimate him. This is a moment in his career when he will bring all he has to the ring and the key is that I am mentally strong and totally prepared for a 12-round Championship fight.
"They can say that I should be fighting better guys, but it takes time. I'm 24 and working towards the big fights, like Bernard Hopkins and the other world champions in unification fights."
Cleverly won the strap in May last year after stopping Aleksy Kuziemski in the fourth-round of their world title fight.
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